LACMA Debuts $724M David Geffen Galleries With Star-Studded Gala

The new wing's opening event drew a who's who of art and entertainment luminaries.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 9:24pm

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The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) held a star-studded gala on April 17, 2026 to celebrate the public debut of its new $724 million David Geffen Galleries. The event was attended by a who's who of art and entertainment figures, including the building's namesake David Geffen, filmmaker George Lucas, artists Ed Ruscha and Jeff Koons, and many others.

Why it matters

The opening of the David Geffen Galleries marks a major milestone for LACMA, one of the largest art museums in the western United States. The new wing, designed by architect Peter Zumthor, has sparked both praise and criticism for its unconventional approach to displaying art. The gala highlighted the museum's ability to draw high-profile figures from the worlds of art, film, and philanthropy.

The details

The 347,500-square-foot David Geffen Galleries replaced four existing LACMA buildings. Guests arrived to a striking visual of Zumthor's gray concrete structure illuminated from below, with lights twinkling like stars along its underbelly as the sun set. Conversations flowed between museum directors, acclaimed artists, and entertainment industry figures. Notable attendees included David Geffen, George Lucas, Ed Ruscha, Jeff Koons, Mark Bradford, Refik Anadol, Wim Wenders, and LACMA director Michael Govan. Contemporary artist Lauren Halsey praised the new space, calling Zumthor's creation 'beautiful' and 'fantastic.'

  • The opening gala was held on April 17, 2026.
  • The new David Geffen Galleries project took nearly two decades to complete.

The players

David Geffen

The billionaire philanthropist and entertainment executive for whom the new LACMA wing is named.

George Lucas

The acclaimed filmmaker who attended the opening gala.

Ed Ruscha

The renowned artist who was seen in conversation with George Lucas at the event.

Jeff Koons

The acclaimed artist who was observed speaking with Ed Ruscha at the gala.

Lauren Halsey

The contemporary artist who praised the new David Geffen Galleries as 'beautiful' and 'fantastic.'

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What they’re saying

“The new space is beautiful and fantastic.”

— Lauren Halsey, Artist

The takeaway

The star-studded opening gala for LACMA's new David Geffen Galleries underscores the museum's ability to attract high-profile figures from the worlds of art, film, and philanthropy. While the building's unconventional design has sparked debate, the event highlighted the museum's ambition to redefine how art is experienced in a civic setting.